The Xinshe Terraced Coastline is a seaside rice-terrace landscape in Xinshe Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County, rising against the hillside with the Pacific as its backdrop — Taiwan's only ocean-facing terraced rice field and home to one of the communities that has preserved the most Kavalan language and culture. During the rice-growing seasons, the flooded terrace surfaces reflect the sky in rich layers, while community cultural facilities add indigenous depth and historical context to the agricultural landscape.
Xinshe Village is home to the community that has preserved the most Kavalan language and culture in Taiwan, hosting the country's only banana-fiber weaving workshop as well as the Neolithic-era Xinshe stone coffin. The local terraces, facing the Pacific, are described as Taiwan's largest ocean-facing rice terraces, with golden rice waves and ocean views combining during the harvest season. (Sources: East Coast National Scenic Area Administration; United Daily News local report)
Highlights of the Xinshe Terraced Coastline
Xinshe Village is one of the most important communities of the Kavalan (Kavalan) people. The Kavalan originally lived in the Yilan area; following Han Chinese settlement during the Qing dynasty, they gradually relocated to the eastern side of the Coastal Range in Hualien. The Xinshe terraces run alongside Provincial Highway 11 (the coastal highway), with farmland extending down the hillside toward the shore — the lowest fields nearly reach the Pacific — creating an exceptionally rare ocean-facing agricultural landscape that is a special case among Taiwan's coastal lowland terrain.
The terrace scenery changes markedly with the seasons. During transplanting (around March to April), the terraces are flooded and the water surface mirrors sky and sea; during the grain-ripening period (around July to August), golden waves of rice sway across the fields. The Kavalan Cultural Center displays the history of the community's migration, the banana-fiber weaving craft, and traditional ceremonies — a significant cultural complement to the terrace landscape.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Time
- Xinshe Village is on Provincial Highway 11 in the Fengbin Township section, approximately 70 to 80 kilometers south of Hualien City. Driving time is about 1.5 hours; follow Highway 11.
- The flooded terrace period (March to April) and the ripening period (July to August) offer the most scenic conditions. The landscape is comparatively plain during the winter fallow season.
- Traffic on Highway 11 is heavy; roadside parking requires attention to safety. Some viewpoints have small parking areas.
Nearby Connections
- Heading south along Provincial Highway 11 for approximately 10 to 15 kilometers reaches Shihtiping, connecting the pothole geology and whale-and-dolphin-watching itinerary for a Fengbin East Coast half-day outing.
- The northern section of Highway 11 connects to Jiqi Beach and Baji Lookout; heading south extends to Changhong Bridge and Ruisui.
Sources: Fengbin Township Office, East Coast National Scenic Area Administration, Kavalan Cultural Center public information. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Xinshe Terraced Coastline special?
It is Taiwan's only rice terrace landscape directly facing the ocean, and it is home to the community that has preserved the most Kavalan language and culture.
What Kavalan cultural experiences are available in Xinshe Village?
The village has Taiwan's only banana-fiber weaving workshop and a Kavalan cultural center covering migration history, weaving craft, and traditional ceremonies.
When is the best time to view the Xinshe Terraced Coastline?
The flooded transplanting period (around March–April) and the golden ripening period (around July–August) offer the richest terrace scenery.
Sources
- 新社部落－東部海岸國家風景區觀光資訊網 — 噶瑪蘭族文化、香蕉絲工坊、海梯田說明
- 愛玩橘／花蓮豐濱新社村 一探噶瑪蘭文化－聯合新聞網 — 地方報導佐證